Noun

1. ) The wood from any conifer (or from Ginkgo), without regarding how soft this wood is.

   SYP is a softwood, but it is harder than many hardwoods.

2. (in more general use) As the preceding but limited to those that are commercial timbers.
3. ) The tree or tree species that yields the preceding

   This softwood has been planted extensively throughout Scotland.

4. A joint term for the commercial timbers, without distinguishing which.

   You should have used softwood for the frame of this shed, instead of overbuilding it like this.